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Police chief outlines staffing, equipment and technology needs in budget committee briefing
Summary
The police chief said the department is fully staffed with six FTEs but raised concerns about aging equipment: in‑car MDTs out of warranty, tasers no longer supported, e‑ticketing opportunities, and radios not funded in the proposed budget.
The Police Chief told the budget committee the department is currently staffed at six full‑time equivalents and emphasized the role of community policing, investigations and interagency response across Hubbard, Donald and the North Marion School District.
The chief highlighted several equipment and technology needs during questions from committee members: one in‑car mobile data terminal (MDT) has shown repeated failures and is out of warranty; tasers in current use were donated/handed down and their warranty/support has lapsed (warranty period ended March 2024), which complicates evidence downloads and use‑of‑force reporting; and the city's radios are aging and pose safety concerns but the replacement is not included in the proposed budget.
The chief explained e‑ticketing would allow officers to complete tickets in their vehicles and transmit data directly to the court clerk, improving officer safety and efficiency. Committee members and the chief discussed phased replacement or grant opportunities for equipment, and the chief noted some items (firearms replacement) have been funded previously through trade‑in or grant strategies.
Next steps: staff will continue to seek grants and procurement options; committee discussion acknowledged equipment needs but the proposed budget does not fund all wish‑list items.
